Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United came with an added blow as Ryan Gravenberch twisted his ankle and had to be replaced by Curtis Jones with about a third of the game remaining.
Arne Slot confirmed the midfielder will undergo assessment, noting the strain of playing “three matches in seven days” and emphasizing the need to rely on the squad’s depth when necessary.
The goalkeeping situation remains the same — Alisson Becker is still sidelined with a hamstring injury and hasn’t returned to full training, meaning Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue in goal. Wataru Endo also missed the United clash due to a minor problem, while youngster Giovanni Leoni remains out long-term following ACL surgery.
The timing of the setback is far from ideal. Liverpool entered the international break on a run of three consecutive losses and then endured their first home league defeat of the season to United — despite producing enough chances to get a result at Anfield.
After Gravenberch’s withdrawal, Slot tweaked his system, giving Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones greater central roles in a more attacking setup.
Liverpool won’t have much time to dwell on the loss, as they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday (October 22) before facing Brentford at the weekend. Gravenberch remains doubtful for the midweek clash, with Jones, Szoboszlai, or Mac Allister all options to fill the midfield void and restore balance.
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